第24章

With what she gave me I bought a wig.Mag,I want you some day,when you can get off,to come and see that wig.I shouldn't wonder but you'd recognize it.It's red,of very coarse hair,but a wonderful color,and so long it--yes,it might be your own,Mag Monahan,it's so much like it.I went to the theater and got my Charity rig,took it home,and sat for hours there just looking at 'em both.When evening came I was ready to "earn it now."You see,Obermuller had given me the whole day to be away,and neither Gray nor the other three Charities expected me back.

I had to do it on the sly,you sassy Mag!Yes,it was partly because I love to cheat,but more because I was bound to have my chance once whether anybody else enjoyed it or not.

I came to the theater in my Charity rig and the wig.It looked as if I'd slept in it,and it came down to the draggled hem of the skirt.All the way there I walked like you,Mag.Once,when a newsboy grinned at me and shouted "Carrots!"I grinned back--your own,old Cruelty grin,Mag.I vow I felt so much like you--as you used to be--that when I lurched out on the stage at last,stumbling over my shoe laces and trying to push the hair out of my eyes,you'd have sworn it was little Mag Monahan Imaking her debut in the Cruelty room.

Oh,Mag,Mag,you darling Mag!Did you ever hear a whole house,a great big theater full of a peevish vaudeville audience,just rise at you,give one roar of laughter they hadn't expected at all to give,and then settle down to giggle at every move you made?

Girl alive,I just had 'em!They couldn't take their eyes off me.

If I squirmed,they howled.If I stood on one foot,scratching the torn leg of my stocking with the other--you know,Mag!--they yelled.If I grinned,they just roared.

Oh,Mag,can't you see?Don't you understand?I was It.The center of the stage I carried round with me--it was just Nancy Olden.And for ten minutes Nancy had nothing to do but to play with 'em.'Pon my life,Mag,it's just like stealing;the old graft exactly;it's so fascinating,so busy,and risky,except that they play the game with you and pay you and love you to fool 'em.

When the curtain fell it was different.Grays followed by the Charities,all clean and spick-and-span and--not in it;not even on the edge of it--stormed up to Obermuller standing at the wings.

"I'll quit the show here and now,"she squawked."It's a shame,a beastly shame.How dare you play me such a trick,Fred Obermuller?I never was treated so in my life--to have that dirty little wretch come tumbling on like that,without even so much as your telling me you'd made up all this new business for her!It's indecent,anyway.Why,I lost my cue.There was a gap for a full minute.The whole act was such a ghastly failure that I--""That you'd better go out now and make your prettiest bow,Gray.

Phew!Listen to the house roar.That's what I call applause.Go on now."She went.

Me?I didn't say a word.I looked at Obermuller and--and I just did like this.Yes,winked,Mag Monahan.I was so crazily happy Ihad to,didn't I?

But do you know what he did?Do you know what he did?

Well,I suppose I am screaming and the Troyons will put me out,but--he just--winked--back!

And then Gray came trailing back into the wings,and the shrieking and thumping and whistling out in front just went on--and on--and on--and on.Um!I just listened and loved it--every thump of it.And I stood there like a demure little kitten;or more like Mag Monahan after she'd had a good licking,and was good and quiet.And I never so much as budged till Obermuller said:

"Well,Nance,you have earned it.The gall of you!But it only proves that Fred Obermuller never yet bought a gold brick.Only,let me in on your racket next time.There,go on--take it.It's yours."Oh,to have Fred Obermuller say things like that to you!

He gave me a bit of a push.'Twas just a love-pat.I stumbled out on to the stage.